When Is It Time To Say Goodbye?
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Rob Richardson purchased this KP30 Toyota 1000 when he was 18 years old. In the 18 years of ownership that followed, the car took him to university and subsequently to work. It outlived jobs, house moves and relationships. It even transported Rob to his wedding and saw the arrival of not one but two children.
After all that, Rob recently sold the little Toyota. ‘How could he?!’ I hear you ask. I had the same question too…
I first came to know about Rob from his personal blog (remember those?) called Racer86. I’d occasionally see his cars at events, and then in 2012, the 1000 appeared on Speedhunters. In the time since then, the Toyota received curated upgrades as Rob’s taste evolved.
At first glance today, the 1000 resembles what I would imagine Toyota releasing back in the late-1970s as a homologation model for a smaller-capacity touring car series. All of the work put into the car reflects a ‘clubsport’ influence.
The 1000 recently underwent a full rebuild of its retrofitted 1,500cc 5K, an engine most commonly found in older Toyota Hiace vans. The now high-compression and cammed four-cylinder features twin 40mm Dellorto carburettors and a custom exhaust system.
The car used to run a fairly aggressive stance, with 13×7.5-inch front and 13×9-inch rear wheels with stretched rubber barely fitting under the arches. Since then a more subdued approach has been taken. Incredibly rare Bridgestone Sharak wheels with more sensibly-sized tyres sit in their place.
Much of the drivetrain remains the same as before, with a 5-speed gearbox sending power to an extremely rare TRD differential. While the latter was mentioned in Bryn’s story from 10 years ago, it requires repeating. Through no association other than owning the same type of car, Koji Iwasa from Cha Cha Racing Family answered Rob’s call via the internet for a TRD differential, and then shipped it from Japan along with a care package before asking for a menial payment.
A Cha Cha Racing Family sticker – something gifted to very few people by Iwasa-san – takes pride of place on the 1000’s back window.
The interior has also had a sympathetic makeover, with the bare rear passenger area now covered in carpet to continue the clubsport-style theme, along with a period-correct tachometer and oil pressure gauge.
One of the best things the little car gave Rob over his custodianship was acting as a catalyst for new friendships, both here in the UK and abroad. Rob has also been fortunate enough to have owned a number of other fun cars alongside the Toyota; namely a G-body Porsche 911, classic Mini and first-gen Mazda MX-5 amongst others.
So to come full circle and make sense of how someone could sell on such an intrinsic part of their life, Rob put it better than I ever could.
“It had started to feel like 18 years going on holiday to the same place, the same hotel with the same food and the same views. All beautiful and wonderful. Always a fantastic time. But I’m ready to travel.”
Rob’s most recent purchase of a lovely BMW 2002 (that I hope to spotlight soon) brought with it the realisation that you should never have two cars that do the same thing. I’m not sure whether to call him a fool or a hero, but Rob has also placed an order for a new Morgan Super 3, which would not have been possible without parting with the little Toyota 1000. So while it’s a shame to say goodbye, Rob is already well on his way to experiencing new automotive travels.
What is the longest you’ve owned a car and if you’ve sold it, why? I’d be keen to hear experiences in the comments below.
Chaydon Ford
Instagram: chaycore
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Did Tin Soldier Race Cars Build The Perfect X275 Drag Car ?! This 1987 Buick Grand National Is Something Else
This Tin Soldiers Race Cars developed 1987 Grand National was the broach the PRI program in Indy recently as well as completely reason. This is Dave Fiscus ‘latest ride as well as guy is it great as hell. If you are a follower of Grand Nationals you’ll love this thing as well as if you are a DIE HARD fan who thinks that each of them ought to still be 3.8 Buick Powered, you’ll REALLY like this thing. Yep, it is still a V6 automobile and since it is additionally so clean as well as classy there wasn’t a time all week where individuals weren’t standing around it gawking over all the awesomeness. Our friend Jeff Lee was virtually drooling and we absolutely understand why.
Inspect it out.
Video clip Description:
“Going quick with course” Today we reveal Dave Fiscus’s 1987 Buick Grand National that he will certainly be running in X275.
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Fave Car Ads: 1971 Pontiac GTO
Rolling In To The Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show
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The first weekend of December is always an event double-whammy for me. It starts off on Saturday at the Pacifico Yokohama convention center for the Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show setup, while Sunday – the actual Mooneyes event day – is spent at Fuji Speedway for the Nismo Festival.
Now that Covid disruptions seem to be behind us, this past weekend I had a lot of fun hitting up these two legendary meets once again. Let’s kick off with the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show 2022 – the 30th anniversary event no less.
The show prep is something I’ve always enjoyed shooting.
Seeing so many wild vehicles arrive under their own power is a real spectacle, and even if I never get to see the actual show the following day, I never feel short changed.
With enough space inside the venue that I can easily break out my 70-200mm lens, plus no crowds to contend with, setup day at the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show really is an automotive photographer’s paradise.
It’s also so cool to see the work that goes into preparing cars for display, not to mention the displays themselves.
Then of course there are the cars – the main reason why we’re here.
Although I’ve covered Mooneyes events in Japan for years – and learned a lot about this corner of car culture in the process – I could never call myself an expert. There’s just too much variety when it comes to vehicles, history and styles spanning pretty much a whole century.
But that’s OK. I’ve always enjoyed being a fish out of water at these events, but at the same time some things have become familiar. That’s because Mooneyes Japan events always throw domestic cars into the mix.
Like the Yajima Jidousha S14 Silvia, which I first ran into at Tsukuba back in 2018. Since then, its L28 engine has received a bump up to 3.1L and it now breathes through triple 50mm carburettors.
Right in front of the S14 was this Nissan Gloria wagon, also powered by an L-series engine with a similar spec.
It’s so cool to see owners continuing to use these older, carbureted straight-sixes. It must be rather cool having full-tune S30Z sound in your wagon.
Mooneyes always has its fair share of Volkswagen Beetles and Buses, but there were some other rear-engined VW beauties at the event, including this stunning Brazilian 1600 4-door notchback.
No matter how you decide to navigate the Pacifico halls, the variety keeps coming.
So, when I was done looking at old American trucks, I headed back outside to see what was on its way in.
I love themed cars, especially ones that make sense. I wouldn’t look twice at a Nissan NV200 van on the street, but when one turns up to a Mooneyes event sporting the iconic BRE livery and running reimagined 4-spoke wheels – the originals used on old Datsun Sunny race cars – I start snapping away.
The NV200 wasn’t the only BRE-themed vehicle at the Pacifico. Check out this amazing track-side support van from Art Racing.
On the ramps out back was a Datsun 2000, also sporting the legendary colors that Peter Brock of Brock Racing Enterprises made so famous. This rig and car setup was like a Hot Wheels Team Transport release, but in 1:1 scale and fully functional.
The Nissan racing theme didn’t end there…
I am not 100% sure what we’re looking at here, but I got flashbacks of the S30-inspired Z33 I saw at TAS back in January, on the Nissan Automotive College booth. If the cars from Ground Designs are anything to go by, it seems like grafting old school faces onto modern cars is catching on.
Here’s Ground Designs’ more street-oriented build, rolling in later on in the day.
Custom bikes are an important part of the Hot Rod Custom Show, so I always have to grab a few pictures.
Mooneyes Japan always likes to bring in builds from other countries for this event, but sadly it didn’t end up working out this year. The container coming from Los Angeles, that was filled with bikes, never even made it onto the ship due to dockworker strikes.
One area of the event was reserved for ‘Muscle Mopar’, and boy did the display live up to its name.
Not only did they have this crazy machine sporting a 9.3L big block engine…
…But a huge number of Plymouth Road Runners – more than I’ve ever seen in one place at one time.
It was fun trying to figure out the differences of the various model years.
For me, the winner was this Super Bird iteration – primarily based on the visuals and that massive rear wing. I tried to look for the owner to ask if the car was one of the few packing a 426ci Hemi V8 – and to hear the beep beep horn – but to no avail.
Earlier on I mentioned the variety of builds on display at the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show, and here’s more proof – a slammed Daihatsu Hijet.
This little display – a homage to the 1980 Subaru AWD wagon that was used by the US Ski Team during the Lake Placid Winter Olympics and subsequent ad campaign – stopped me in my tracks. It was so ’80s, and with so much pink I end up wondering if this is the reason STI used the color in its branding…
Ever since covering Andy’s Rod Works years back, I’ve become a real fan of Willys coupes. I’ve always found it visually-pleasing how the front and entire roof line of these cars dramatically lean forward, making them look like they’re going 100mph even when sitting still.
No surprise then that they look absolutely menacing when built up for drag racing.
There’s nothing like a big blower topped off with a bug catcher to make a statement!
I had my son in tow, sort of as an assistant, wheeling my camera case around and making sure to complain every few minutes at just how much walking we were doing. When we stopped to look at the ’90 Years of Deuce’ display he had trouble comprehending that these cars are close to 100 years old now. “But they look so new,” he kept saying. He was kind of right, and that’s really the whole point of kustom culture – keeping these historic machines alive and reinventing them over and over again. I’m pretty sure it struck a chord with the little fellow.
As the day went on, the displays were buttoned up and the show really started coming together.
It was towards the evening that I had a chance to take a closer look at some of my favorite builds of the show, including this one from a member of the famed Pharoahs Car Club Japan.
I’ve always been intrigued by the straight-eight engine, a Fireball 8 in this case.
Not too far away, the lowrider area was pretty much ready for Sunday.
I’m sure Snoop Dogg would feel right at home in this one.
The Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show has always managed to bring domestic and international kustom culture together in its own unique way, and this year’s event was no different. The fusion of old and new, the mix of styles and the amazing people make it all so special. As ever, I can’t wait for the 31st event in 2023.
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com
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The Pumpkin Run At Flemings Auto Parts: This Show Is Awesome And Grippos Photos Continue Here
Here’s Grippo’s 2nd gallery of pictures from the Flemings Pumpkin Run. I love this program, and seeing the pictures from this place makes me smile each year. It’s unique, an overall loss fave, and we enjoy it. If you missed out on the very first gallery, we’ve obtained a link below to see all them as well.
(Words and also Photos by Joe Grippo) You will always recognize where to find me on the initial Saturday of November, at The Pumpkin Run at Flemings Auto Parts in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. This year was the 24th yearly show was the greatest one ever before. The abnormally warm November temperatures were fairly the separation from chilly Pumpkin Runs of previous years and also definitely assisted the attendance. Automobile program participants, flea market seekers and spectators filled up the large several show areas to absorb as high as they can during this set day only occasion.
If you can not discover something here to please your BANGshift fancy, you require to look for aid. Lifted trucks, reduced trucks, racers, classics, motorcycles, race autos eighteen-wheelers and also muscle of definition always get on the menu. I observed multiple states stood for as well as saw that as evidence that this when well-kept trick of an awesome local program is currently a major show on every person’s schedule. Pretty outstanding development.
Harry Fleming and also his volunteer staff annually hit it out of the park, and 2022 was no various. Make certain to make plans for next year and the 25th edition of the Flemings Pumpkin Run. See you there. Dig into the photos …
More information:
https://www.flemingspumpkinrun.com/
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Will a Procharged Hemi on 28’s Work On The Street? We’re About To Find Out With The OG Murder Nova!
The Street Outlaws men have had some outstanding success, however they also have a quite demanding timetable when it comes to the No Prep Kings as well as the television series so when they get a chance to do something various, it can be a great deal of enjoyable. In this situation, various methods Shawn Ellington is putting a little set of 28 × 10..50 tires on the back of the OG Murder Nova for Mega Cash Days. You listened to that right, placing a small-tire under the OG that has had a huge tire on it for many years.
Bolting that little tire and wheel onto the cars and truck isn’t a large bargain, however making it actually go down the race course is another point. Will he make it happen? Can it perhaps function?
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Muscular Tissue Car And Corvette Nationals Photos: Bob Chiluk Chooses A Bad Ass Mopar For The BANGshift Pick Award.
Here’s our last gallery of photos from Bob Chiluk, and also this one is of the 1971 Plymouth Sport Fury owned by Dave Aren’t that we selected for our BANGshift Pick Award. Bob did an outstanding job, picked a vehicle the size of a barge with large block power, heritage, documentation, as well as an amazing repair. It’s not a Corvette, Camaro, Cuda, or Mustang, but rather a large full size Mopar with great deals of mindset. Check it out in the photos listed below.
(Photos by Bob Chiluk) The Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals are the World’s Largest interior vehicle program showcasing muscular tissue cars, Corvettes, and dealer-built supercars, and thanks to our close friend as well as BANGshift contributor Bob Chiluk, we’ve got galleries of images from this remarkable event to share with all of you. This is a very large program as well as one that has all type of awesome lorries on display, in addition to car debuts, star looks, as well as more. There is no shortage of things to salivate over, and they’ve also got a truly neat survivor area of the program that has some truly impressive locates.
There are a lot of rare as well as fascinating muscle mass cars and trucks at this program, consisting of stuff that was made to travel the show circuit and afterwards go away, and also never ever again see the light of day. This occasion has those type of automobiles in spades, as well as it is amazing to see them in one location.
You require to put this program on your listing of occasions that certify as “must go to” for next year. We already have and we wish to join our Chicago area pals to help with the coverage in 2023. Yeah, it is cool and also crummy up there this time of the year but that belongs to the enjoyable. Anybody can do a badass automobile show in terrific climate yet only the hardcore fans will certainly fight the components. These photos are terrific.
As well as Bob has done such an excellent task covering this event in years past that they enabled us to have a Bob Chiluk, BANGshift.com, Pick for this year’s show. We’ll have a specialized gallery just to that outstanding Mopar coming later in the week. In the meantime, take a look at our initial gallery and utilize the web link listed below to see any type of you’ve missed before.
Thanks once again Bob for doing such a terrific job at this show.
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LS Corvair Project: Getting Closer! Brake Lines … Do Them Right, Cause They Matter.
This project is getting better as well as more detailed to a real operating and also driving automobile. The brake lines are the subject of this video clip here and as you well know there are a lot of ways to manage them. See exactly how John does it.John Reynolds is a negative ass. This is a cool project with a lot of wonderful thought as well as fab job entering into it and you are going to want to check it out. It’s outstanding to see as well as we can’t wait to see this point carrying butt!
While I’ve heard of a couple of drivetrain swaps that virtually bolt into various other makes as well as models, that is not going to be the case when you are trying to put an LS4 into the rear of a Corvair. These engines were in a front-wheel-drive application, with struts and guiding and also all sort of various other stuff that just wouldn’t be best in the rear of the Corvair. The job is actually beginning to take shape as well as I know this one is going to be a hell of an amazing ride when it’s all done.
V8 Corvairs are awesome, and also I’ve seen numerous developed throughout the years. Some are front-engine, some “mid” engine, but everybody I’ve ever seen has had the engine running in the ideal instructions. This set below nonetheless is going an entirely different path. As well as by different I indicate transverse installing the LS. It’s an LS4, which was available in front-wheel drive V8 Impalas, and besides a couple of small things it is similar to all the other LS engines you understand as well as like.
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Ultra Rare Flathead Parts: Bronze Heads And Hi Rise Intake Manifold To Make The Ultimate Flathead Engine?
We’ve heard of some rare stuff for Ford’s Flathead V8, but this is something I’ve never heard of before. Bronze heads? I mean I guess there isn’t any reason why it doesn’t work, but it sure seems weird when the normal is cast iron, and performance parts were starting to come out in aluminum. I dig it though and it looks cool as hell. Watch the video below and you’ll see what kind of cool is really going on here as Matt explains the parts, the history, and how he got it.
Video Description:
This summer Matt started working on an engine for the 1932 Ford Roadster, that turned into a lot more then just a re-gasket. The engine will need to be set away to have the bearings for the crank replaced and the whole bottom end gone over for any other issues. Luckily Matt is a hoarder and had another flathead sitting that could be used. Ironically this engine was used as mock up in the car back when the car got worked on. The “new” flathead came from an estate in Wilmington, NC, where the story was told that this engine was used as a cackle engine at local hot rod shows. Matt and Steve first test the engine on the run stand to see if there are any issues, and then install the copper heads and intake. Matt also did a bench line on the time it took the engine to get up to temp versus the copper heads. Can’t wait to hear this engine in the 32 Roadster!!
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